Phone Phobia

[jktrapp]

all
I could really use everyones input. I have an intense fear of the phone! I've been selling PC for over 5 years and it's just been happening for the last 4 months. I can psych myself up (ex: no phone calls no $$), but its not working. . I do get physically sick too (nauseated, etc) I do great talking to people in person, but the phone... Anyone else suffer this way and what's your secret of getting through it? Thanks!

Jean T. Colorado

 

[Admin Greg]

Can you pinpoint what exactly the problem with phoning someone is? Fear of rejection? Fear of messing up or sounding stupid?

 

[jktrapp]

Fear of rejection is part of it, but the phone period. It can be my best friend and I don't want to pick up the phone sometimes. When I leave messages I know I tend to talk fast and ramble, so I'm wondering if I come off sounding idiotic or weird

 

[Admin Greg]

Fear of rejection is part of it, but the phone period. It can be my best friend and I don't want to pick up the phone sometimes. When I leave messages I know I tend to talk fast and ramble, so I'm wondering if I come off sounding idiotic or weird

You sound normal, everyone at some point feels the way you do, I know I have.

You said you've been doing PC for 5 years but only recently has this fear crippled you? Can you think of anything that happened recently that triggered this fear respone? Maybe a bad expierence or some other trauma in your life?

 

[jktrapp]

I've had lots of "unlucky" things happen in the last 4 months: husbands hours cut, grandmother dying, children with chronic illnesses getting sick, very thrifty Christmas, and some other minor things. Nothing traumatizing that had to do with the phone though!

 

[Admin Greg]

I've had lots of "unlucky" things happen in the last 4 months: husbands hours cut, grandmother dying, children with chronic illnesses getting sick, very thrifty Christmas, and some other minor things. Nothing traumatizing that had to do with the phone though!

The funny thing about the human psyche is that it usually deals with trauma and stress with repression and then later that stress rises and manifests itself in another form. For example, say you recieved a phone call about your ailing grandmother, your told over the phone that your children are sick, your husband told you over the phone that his hours were cut and you can't spend as much on xmas gifts. You repress that stress so you can deal with the situation at hand, but then never really deal with the stress. Then later that stress slowly comes back, but manifests itself as stress over the phone because that is what caused the stress indirectly.

I don't think you should worry because you could use the phone before. You might just be in a weird funk that will just take time, even though a 4 month funk is kinda long Or you might want to see a doctor about this fear and they can help you work through it. I think you'll be fine either way. This kind of phobia is extremely common, even the most seasoned cold callers at times feel nervous. But what tells me that its something different than common come and go phobia is that you could do it before and now all of a sudden you can't for an extended period of time.

 

[afshea]

Don't let it go on too long

I'm with Greg, you may need to get to a Dr. it sounds like you've had a lot happen in the last few months. Things that can really drag you down a bit, and make you a bit depressed perhaps? You might be functioning okay, but it is pretty common to withdraw into your own little shell when there is a lot going on in your life. Believe me! I've been there done that. If you would like more about my whole "journey" feel free to send me a private message.

Angela Shea